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(No ModeL) Patented Aug. 12, 1890 R E N .E HM 0A F BR m. m 00 ME S R 0 H UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIcE.

MATTHEW IV. EACH, OF OTTAWVA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MYRON W. BALDWVIN, OF SAME PLACE.

HORSE-COLLAR FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. f.t34,232, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed May 28, 1890- Serial No. 353,448. (No model.)

To all whom, it'may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATTHEW \V. EACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at ttawa, in the county of La- Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Collar Fasteners; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to certain improvements in the construction of horse-collar fasteners, the object thereof being to simplify and cheapen fastening devices, whereby the adjacent ends of the sides of the collar may be easily, firmly, and quickly coupled; and the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1v is a bottom plan view of the adjacent ends of the horse-collar,

showing my improved fastening devices applied thereto for the purpose of coupling the said ends. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line of Fig.1. Fig. 3 represents in perspective the two parts of my improved o horse-collar fastening, which are connected,

respectively, to the adjacent ends of the collar. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial reverse plan view of the adjacent ends of the 3 5 two parts of the collar-fastening.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

My invention is designed for use with col- 4o lars which open at the bottom instead of at the top, although it may be employed, if desired, with any kind of a horse-collar. It is necessary with collars which thus open to provide a simple and efficient means for quickly connecting and disconnecting said ends when the collar is in practical use.

A A designate the lower adjacent ends of any ordinary horse-collar of any desirable or preferred kind and construction, said ends being provided, as usual, with the ordinary halite-crease.

My fastening device consists, essentially, of two parts, one of which is securely fastened to the under side of one of the collar ends A, while the other is firmly connected to the under side ofthe other of said ends. In Fig. 3 these two parts are shown separate from each other in perspective.

One of the parts adapted to be secured to one of the collar ends A may be described as follows: It consists of the metallic plate 0, having the arms D D, said plate as well as the arms being provided with peforations through which pass screws, pins, or other socuring devices I) b, for the purpose of firmly attaching the same to the collar, the said plate C being located near the end of the collar, while the 'arms D D branch suitably therefrom and are secured at proper points on the surface of the collar. 'lheplate C is provided at its end nearest the collar end with a transverse flange parallel to the meeting edge of the collar end. Furthermore, the metallic plate 0 is provided with the curved upwardly projecting lugs or fingers CLCL, located approximate to each end of the flange c, and projecting over the same, there being a convenient distance vertically between the upper edge of said flange and the ends of the lugs a a, and aconvenientdistance horizontally between thebase of said flange and thebasal points of said lugs a a where they startfrom the metal of the plate 0, thus leaving a suitable space between the said flange c and the opposite edges of the curved lugs a a, which space is adapted to receive and neatly contain certain parts belonging to the other portion of the collarfastener, which is secured to the other collar end and which will be presently described. It will be observed that the metallic plate 0 is perforated centrally for the passage of one of the attaching screws or pinsb I) mentioned.

It will also be noted by referring to Figs. 2 and at that the under side of the plate 0 is somewhat swollen or enlarged around this perforation, so that the plate 0 may have its upper face at a proper distance from the surface of the collar 0 to permit the proper and easy movement of the parts of the device when engaging with or disengagingfrom each other.

The otherof the parts of the fastening which is adapted to be secured to the other of the collar ends A may be described as follows: It consists of a metallic plate 0 similar to the plate 0 and of convenient form and shape and having branching arms D D, similar, if desired, to the arms D D, said plate 0', as well as the arms D D, being provided with perforations, through which pass screws, pins, or other attaching devices I) for securing the device to the collar. It will be observed that one of the arms D is preferably bulged or bent to permit the passage therethrough of one of theharness-straps. (Not herein shown or described.) The metallic plate C is form ed at its edge nearest the edge of the end of the collar with a groove E on the under side of the plate 0', which groove, except at each end, cuts through the metal of the plate 0 and leaves a slot, this being a preferable, although not necessary, construction. Between the groove E and the edge of the plate C is therefore left the flange E, which results from the cutting of the aforesaid groove, which flange is parallel to the edge of the end of the collar. Furthermore, it will be observed that the plate 0 is provided on its upper face with the two parallel flanges or lugs d (Z at right angles to the flange E and having their upper edges curved, which curvatures correspond in a greater or less degree with the curvature of the end edges of the lugs (L (L belonging to the other part of the collarfastener. So far as the size of the several parts of this section of the collar-fastener is concerned, it may be simply stated that the groove E is of sufficient size to neatly receive therein the flange c, and the flange E is of proper width to enter the space between said flange c and the curved upwardly-projecting lugs a a. The plate 0' is perforated, as has already been stated, for the passage therethrough of the attaching-screw or other similar device.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 4, especially to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the under side of the plate C is bulged or enlarged around this perforation, said enlargement being similar to the enlargement on the under side of the plate C, and being for a similar purpose.

The mode of connecting the two parts of the fastener and of interlocking them forthe purpose of securing together the two ends of the collar will be obvious from the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without need of further additional detail. \Vhen the two parts of the fastener are to be connected,

one collar end A will be brought close against the other collar end A, and the upper flange a will be passed through the end groove E of the flange E, at the same time entering the space between the flange 0 and the lugs a ct, which 111 gs pass over and rest opposite to the curved or otherwise suitably-shaped flanges (Z (Z. The two parts of the fastener will 110w be firmly interlocked. The hame strap can now be fastened. Obviously it will lie between the lugs a a and the flanges (Z (Z, and this will keep the portions of the fastener from slipping out of engagement with each other.

Of course Iain not restricted to the precise and identical form and shape of the several parts which I have just described; but I reserve the liberty of varying and modifying the exact construction and arrangement to suit the exigencies of dillerent cases, keeping all the while within the limits of the invention as outlined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a horse-collar fastening, the combination of a plate adapted to be secured to one end of the collar, said plate having a,transverse upper flange, and also curved upwardly projectinglugs orfingers adjacent to the ends of the flange, and a plate adapted to be socured to the other collar end, said plate having a transverse under groove, an adjacent parallel flange, and the pair of upper lugs or flanges at each end of the said flange, substantially as described.

2. In a horse-collar fastener, the combination of the plate C, having armsD D, adapted to be secured to one collar end, said plate 0 being provided with the upper end flange c and the curved upwardly-projecting lugs or fingers a a, adjacent to the ends of said flange 0, but at a suitable distance therefrom, and the plate 0, having arms D D, adapted to be secured to the other collar end, said plate 0' having the under groove E and flange E, together with the upper curved-edged parallel flanges (Z (Z at each end of part E, but at right angles thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATTHEW \V. llACl I.

\Vitnesses:

Tires. (1. FULLERTON, CASSIE A. SMITH. 

